Among the enabling technologies making robots more flexible and useful are improved cameras. 3D vision, aided by object recognition and machine learning, now allows robots, drones, and autonomous vehicles to operate in a variety of environments. Intel Corp. is helping to advance the state of the art with more affordable sensors.

Tully Foote, ROS -platform manager, OSRF

In this webcast, we talk with Tully Foote, ROS platform manager at the Open Source Robotics Foundation, about the latest advances in machine vision. He also describes how the TurtleBot development platform benefits from the RealSense camera.

Depth sensing and 3D vision are necessary for the TurtleBot 3 to map its surroundings, navigate autonomously, and manipulate objects. Foote also discusses a milestone for the Robot Operating System — its 10th anniversary — and where machine vision still needs work.

Intel releases new RealSense models

Brian K. Pruitt, RealSense peripheral segment director at Intel

At CES 2018, Robotics Business Review also spoke with Brian K. Pruitt, RealSense peripheral segment director at Intel, about the D400 Series of RealSense cameras.

The RealSense D415 and D435 are designed to be compact, affordable, and easy to install in robots and other devices. With artificial intelligence and 3D vision, these cameras can help robots see more like humans do.

In addition, Pruitt talks about potential robotics applications, the new RealSense SDK 2.0, and the camera’s noninterference capability.